Goodbye Barbados

So long, farewell Barbados! It's been a wonderful vacation, filled with calmness, rest, laughter and love. Now, it's time to say Goodbye to this beautiful island that has been so good to us. Tonight is our last night, until next time. Tomorrow, we fly back to Toronto and Monday morning...we pick up our two little darlings. We can't wait to see them!

Our second week was great, the weather couldn't have been better. Our daily routine has been somewhat similar to home, minus the surroundings and the pooches. We are early birds and being in Barbados didn't change that. I found myself getting the coffee and juice ready at about 6:15 am. No dogs to take out or feed but I had to feed the little birdies that were waiting for me on the balcony every morning. So sweet.

Last Tuesday, we went to the Round House, located in the historic Bathsheba on the rugged East Coast of Barbados. It was built in the early 1800's.  It is located within minutes of one of the world's premier surf spots, the "Soup Bowl". We had a lovely lunch and got to meet the owner's dog, Charlie. What a sweetie!

We spent the rest of the week just relaxing. Russell's knee has improved dramatically since we got here. The pool and the beach have added a different dimension to his recovery and it's made a big difference. As for me, other than my morning walks and laps in the pool, I haven't done much except reading books. Today, I finished my fourth book. It's all good.

The staff at our hotel has been wonderful. Being here is truly like being home away from home, for a no fuss vacation. It is clean, friendly, not pretentious, the beach is one mile long, great for walking, the food is great. Until next year Southern Palms!

Despite being in Barbados, we have been following the daily news about the flooding in Canada, specifically close to where we live. We are fortunate to live in an area that is not affected by flooding but our hearts go out to those who are. It is heartbreaking. This morning, we found out that flooding has forced Transport Quebec to close a major link to the Island of Montreal, the Galipeault Bridge...the bridge that we normally take, coming back from Toronto,  when crossing from Ile Perrot to Beaconsfield, a mere 15 minutes or so from where we live. There is another bridge that we could take but it is also under flood watch and possible closure. So, I guess, we will cross that bridge when we get to it, no pun intended. Either way, we will find a way home. A detour would be nothing compared to what many people are going through now.

That's a wrap from Barbados.  Next blog will be from home, Beaconsfield, Quebec. Until next time!

Morning coffee view...from the famous room 309.

Morning walk, a mile long beach, our "pink" hotel
in the background.

The locals swim in the ocean every morning, friendly folks.

Full moon rising, shrouded in the sea air mist.

Sunset at the Southern Palms, wonderful pastel sky.

The Round House restaurant and guest house in
Bathsheba...rugged, friendly and beautiful.

The welcoming interior of the Round House....
simple and stunning.

The views from the Round House are amazing and the
waves huge.

Russell and I had a great lunch at the
Round House served by friendly
staff 

Charlie, the resident canine greeter...
she is an awesome gal.

Easter in Barbados

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. Ours started out with an Easter Egg hunt for the kids at the hotel. I couldn't help myself, I had to watch. I even spotted a few eggs but kept their hideaway to myself. It was a nice way to get the morning started.

For me, Easter represents a time of renewal and reflection. For the past few days, I've been reflecting back to this time last year. We were in Barbados and I was trying to cope with the recent passing of my parents.  One year later, I miss them just as much but I'm in a different place. It's been a difficult year and Russell's constant love and support got me through it. Not to mention the unconditional love of Cooper and Spicy. The best therapy dogs anyone could ever have! Life does go on.

We've been having a wonderful time. The weather has been perfect. We both have a nice glow and are feeling good. We've been eating well, lots of fish. I finished Greg Iles's book, The Cemetery Road, which is absolutely the best book I've read in a long time. Gripping to the end. I have since read another book, a medical thriller by Robin Cook. Not as gripping but good and easy to read. Tomorrow, I will start The Switch by Sandra Brown. As you can see, I've been busy. Russell is doing well and his knee couldn't be better. He walks the beach every morning and does his pool stretching. On Monday night, he put his new knee to a true test and we danced under the stars. It doesn't get any better than this.

On Friday, we went to Oistins, a little fishing village on the South Coast, which becomes a hub of activity on the weekend. It was fun to walk through the village and take in all the vendors.

Despite being in Barbados, we've been keeping in touch with the news back home. There is lots of flooding in Montreal and our hearts go out to those affected.

Our pooches are doing well and we miss them dearly. We've been following their daily antics through Darlah's blog and we know they are having a great time.

We are now starting our second week, actually we're more than half way through our vacation. We fly back to Toronto on Sunday. Until then, we will continue to enjoy every moment to the fullest. Have a great week everyone!

Watching the sunset with our feet on the pink wall of the Southern
Palms Beach Hotel!

A fish in the sky in Oistins..home to Friday night fish fry and
the Oistins Festival at Easter.

Crowds enjoying the fish bounty in Oistins.

Vendors setting up shop for the Oistins Festival.

Let the Easter egg hunt begin at the Southern Palms.

...a few last minute instructions for the egg hunters.

And the search is on.....

Just a few of the koi and turtles in the
ponds at the Southern Palms.

Barbados...home away from home

Hello from beautiful Barbados, our home away from home for the next two weeks. We've been coming to this island for the past 27 years or so.....we love it, what more can I say. The perfect place for a relaxing, no fuss vacation.

We arrived last Friday. Russell's new knee travelled really well. As expected, the alarms went off when he went through security.  The agent gently patted down the knee and all was cleared. The flight was good and Russell walked the aisles a few times just to get the leg moving.  His only concern was getting off the plane and going down the stairs (in Barbados, deplaning is outside) but as luck would have it, for the first time ever, the stairs were replaced by a ramp. Russell was a happy camper.

When we got to our hotel, we received a warm "welcome back" from the staff. It was really nice to see them all and to be remembered by them.  Our room was ready....room 309, as always. A wonderful fruit basket was in the kitchen, my breakfast for the next few days.

The weather has been great, warm and breezy, with a few brief moments of liquid sunshine.

We haven't done much since our arrival other than relax and enjoy the moments.  Russell has had a few walks on the beach and has done some knee stretching in the pool. Our room is on the third floor, and our bedroom is on the second level, so he is using the many stairs as another form of exercise. As for me, I walked a bit today, not much, and have been reading my book...a real page turner (Greg Iles, Cemetery Road).

While we are in our home away from home, the same goes for our pooches. They are doing well and are playing their heart out with their friends.

We are off to the West Coast for dinner tonight, The Cliff Restaurant. We look forward to it. This coming week will be busier at our hotel, with the Easter holiday. It's all good.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy the upcoming long weekend!

Balcony view from 309 early this morning.

 Balcony view with a rainbow on the horizon.

The "Office" for the next few weeks.

Some random color, let us know what these are...
and win a prize.

Just a few books I plan to read while lounging in the sun.

The Barbados All Star Steel Band...every Sunday at lunch
and never fail to entertain.

Spring cleaning

Hi everyone! Another week is upon us and a good one it will be. Beautiful Barbados is awaiting our arrival later this week. We are more than ready for some sunshine, hot temperatures and relaxing times.

This past week was good, I just wished the weather would have been warmer. Despite cool temperatures, Russell and I did some Spring cleaning outside. We cleaned out our garage, hosed down the driveway and front walk. We also chopped up the ice that was still on the deck, about 5 inches thick. Russell did the chopping, I did the chucking. Hopefully, by the time we return, it will be deck time.  We still have a few patches of snow in the backyard, although they are getting smaller and smaller, to Spicy's chagrin. She doesn't like to get her feet wet so those snow patches are her best friends right now. Cooper is also not keen about getting his feet wet but he will go on the mucky grass. It's always fun to watch them at this time of year. I think all dogs are the same, they get used to the snow, then it starts to go away and they wonder what's going on.

Russell's knee replacement is becoming a thing of the past, just a little under three months since he had the surgery.  He continues to impress his physiotherapist....last week, he demonstrated a karate kick. It's more than I can do.

Last Monday, Spicy and I had a wonderful visit with the seniors. It was a full house and she made many people happy. When we return, we will be going back to John Abbott College to meet with the students before exams. We look forward to that visit. On Tuesday, Coop and I also had a great training class. This week's class is promising to be interesting, something to do with a box? Just a few classes left until we resume in the Fall. We will miss our weekly fun.

Russell had a Spa Pedicure last Wednesday. He loved every minute of it! This coming Tuesday, it will be my turn....my holiday pedicure. Can't wait.

Today, we did a little house cleaning before we go. We find it's always nice to return to a clean and tidy house. The last thing I always do before we leave is put fresh towels in the bathroom. It's my thing, what can I say.

That's my blog for today. The next one will be from Barbados. Have a wonderful week!

Spicy and Cooper exploring the new found grass in the
backyard...wet and mucky, a groomers delight!

Spicy loves her patch of snow and ice...I'm not moving she says!

Cooper in a sit stay ready for instruction at Fun Obedience...
we had a blast and learning is fun for us both.